“COVID Arm” in the family medicine setting: Moderna vaccine hypersensitivity reaction

The Moderna COVID-19 vaccination has been widely distributed since authorized for emergency use. Phase 3 clinical trial data reported that 1.5% of recipients experienced hypersensitivity reactions after vaccination. The resulting erythematous rash, termed “COVID arm,” has been described in isolated...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Lara L Cohen, Antonio J Suarez, Bryan W Pardo
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications 2022-01-01
Series:Journal of Public Health and Primary Care
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.jphpc.org/article.asp?issn=2772-3666;year=2022;volume=3;issue=3;spage=90;epage=92;aulast=Cohen
_version_ 1797773788024143872
author Lara L Cohen
Antonio J Suarez
Bryan W Pardo
author_facet Lara L Cohen
Antonio J Suarez
Bryan W Pardo
author_sort Lara L Cohen
collection DOAJ
description The Moderna COVID-19 vaccination has been widely distributed since authorized for emergency use. Phase 3 clinical trial data reported that 1.5% of recipients experienced hypersensitivity reactions after vaccination. The resulting erythematous rash, termed “COVID arm,” has been described in isolated case reports. To our knowledge, existing literature has not presented this diagnosis in the family medicine setting. This study was exempt from Institutional Review Board approval. An 85-year-old female presented to our family medicine clinic with a rash at injection site 15 days after receiving the Moderna vaccine. She endorsed pruritus and allodynia. She was afebrile. The rash measured 8 cm (height) × 9 cm (width) and was erythematous, without edema or warmth. We determined the rash was a “COVID arm” hypersensitivity reaction. Family medicine physicians are newly responsible for providing education and care related to COVID-19 vaccination. This case provides a unique opportunity to review the suspected pathology of “COVID arm” and describe management in an outpatient setting. Patients without severe allergic reactions should proceed with the second dose in their other arm, anticipating possible repeat “COVID arm.”
first_indexed 2024-03-12T22:11:33Z
format Article
id doaj.art-fe85c3efafd7436ba86407ab7a27444e
institution Directory Open Access Journal
issn 2772-3666
2772-3674
language English
last_indexed 2024-03-12T22:11:33Z
publishDate 2022-01-01
publisher Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications
record_format Article
series Journal of Public Health and Primary Care
spelling doaj.art-fe85c3efafd7436ba86407ab7a27444e2023-07-23T11:51:18ZengWolters Kluwer Medknow PublicationsJournal of Public Health and Primary Care2772-36662772-36742022-01-0133909210.4103/jphpc.jphpc_26_21“COVID Arm” in the family medicine setting: Moderna vaccine hypersensitivity reactionLara L CohenAntonio J SuarezBryan W PardoThe Moderna COVID-19 vaccination has been widely distributed since authorized for emergency use. Phase 3 clinical trial data reported that 1.5% of recipients experienced hypersensitivity reactions after vaccination. The resulting erythematous rash, termed “COVID arm,” has been described in isolated case reports. To our knowledge, existing literature has not presented this diagnosis in the family medicine setting. This study was exempt from Institutional Review Board approval. An 85-year-old female presented to our family medicine clinic with a rash at injection site 15 days after receiving the Moderna vaccine. She endorsed pruritus and allodynia. She was afebrile. The rash measured 8 cm (height) × 9 cm (width) and was erythematous, without edema or warmth. We determined the rash was a “COVID arm” hypersensitivity reaction. Family medicine physicians are newly responsible for providing education and care related to COVID-19 vaccination. This case provides a unique opportunity to review the suspected pathology of “COVID arm” and describe management in an outpatient setting. Patients without severe allergic reactions should proceed with the second dose in their other arm, anticipating possible repeat “COVID arm.”http://www.jphpc.org/article.asp?issn=2772-3666;year=2022;volume=3;issue=3;spage=90;epage=92;aulast=Cohencoronavirus disease-19exanthemahypersensitivityinjection site reaction
spellingShingle Lara L Cohen
Antonio J Suarez
Bryan W Pardo
“COVID Arm” in the family medicine setting: Moderna vaccine hypersensitivity reaction
Journal of Public Health and Primary Care
coronavirus disease-19
exanthema
hypersensitivity
injection site reaction
title “COVID Arm” in the family medicine setting: Moderna vaccine hypersensitivity reaction
title_full “COVID Arm” in the family medicine setting: Moderna vaccine hypersensitivity reaction
title_fullStr “COVID Arm” in the family medicine setting: Moderna vaccine hypersensitivity reaction
title_full_unstemmed “COVID Arm” in the family medicine setting: Moderna vaccine hypersensitivity reaction
title_short “COVID Arm” in the family medicine setting: Moderna vaccine hypersensitivity reaction
title_sort covid arm in the family medicine setting moderna vaccine hypersensitivity reaction
topic coronavirus disease-19
exanthema
hypersensitivity
injection site reaction
url http://www.jphpc.org/article.asp?issn=2772-3666;year=2022;volume=3;issue=3;spage=90;epage=92;aulast=Cohen
work_keys_str_mv AT laralcohen covidarminthefamilymedicinesettingmodernavaccinehypersensitivityreaction
AT antoniojsuarez covidarminthefamilymedicinesettingmodernavaccinehypersensitivityreaction
AT bryanwpardo covidarminthefamilymedicinesettingmodernavaccinehypersensitivityreaction